A hike to Golden Ears Park

Yesterday, I spent the day downtown with the Panasonic team. I am part of a team of three VANOC drivers including Dick and Sabine. We are still waiting for a fourth driver to be added to our team so that we have three regular drivers and one support who covers our days off. We spent time yesterday at a Kick-off meeting where we met various members of the Panasonic team who are providing the hospitality services for the Panasonic VIPs who are coming for the games. We also drove to a couple of the sites that the Panasonic VIPs are likely to visit.

Today, I have the day off. It is absolutely beautiful outside, sunny and warm. Debbie and Cathie are in Penticton for a swim meet so it is just Nelson, Geoff, and I at home. Since the weather is so nice, we headed up to Golden Ears Park for a walk with Odin the dog. It was only about a 15 minute drive up to the trail head where we parked the car.

The woods up in the mountains are eerily beautiful. The air is so damp that the trees are all covered in a moss that hangs from the branches. It makes for an almost spooky feeling.

We walked along the North Beach Trail down to Alouette Lake. Odin spent a long time chasing his ball into the lake (which was REALLY cold!) and then he played with another dog that came to visit.

The view was wonderful with mountains rising up all around us, some green and some with snow-capped peaks.

It was really a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and so much nicer than the regular grey, rainy weather that has been the norm for this trip (and the norm for Vancouver at this time of year).